Vietnam to 1954Vietnam to 1954

Vietnam

Vietnamese HistoryVietnamese History

Vietnam has a long history of Vietnam has a long history of "nationalist” struggle. Between "nationalist” struggle. Between 1000 (AD) and 1800 power was 1000 (AD) and 1800 power was held by various families. Civil war held by various families. Civil war was common.was common.

Europeans arrived in the Europeans arrived in the 1600s.1600s.

French Catholic French Catholic missionaries missionaries stayed and stayed and converted converted thousands. thousands.

Vietnamese Vietnamese society takes on society takes on new divisions.new divisions.

France Takes OverFrance Takes Over

In 1858 Napoleon III sent a fleet. In 1858 Napoleon III sent a fleet.

Over the next two decades the French Over the next two decades the French take over. take over.

Anti-French revolts occur from the Anti-French revolts occur from the beginning of French rule.beginning of French rule.

French IndochinaFrench Indochina

The countries of The countries of Vietnam, Laos, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia and Cambodia were together were together called "French called "French Indochina"Indochina"

Divide and ConquerDivide and Conquer

The French divided The French divided Vietnam into three Vietnam into three sections: each was sections: each was ruled in different ways.ruled in different ways.

Some Vietnamese Some Vietnamese flourish under French flourish under French rule.rule.

Vietnamese NationalismVietnamese Nationalism

Nationalists desire Nationalists desire freedom from freedom from colonial rule. colonial rule.

In 1930 the In 1930 the Indochinese Indochinese Communist Party Communist Party is united by Ho Chi is united by Ho Chi Minh.Minh.

WWII & VietnamWWII & Vietnam

1941: Japan 1941: Japan occupied Vietnam. occupied Vietnam.

French citizens French citizens forced to forced to cooperate with the cooperate with the Japanese.Japanese.

Also in 1941Also in 1941

1941: Vietnamese 1941: Vietnamese Independence League Independence League established. established.

Also known as the Also known as the Viet MinhViet Minh..

The leader is Ho Chi Minh.The leader is Ho Chi Minh.

Japan loses WWIIJapan loses WWII

The Viet Minh The Viet Minh proclaim proclaim Vietnamese Vietnamese independence in independence in Hanoi on 9/2/45.Hanoi on 9/2/45.

The French ReturnThe French Return

After the end of After the end of the war France the war France returned to the returned to the south and south and established a established a government government under pro-French under pro-French leader, Bao Dai.leader, Bao Dai.

See No Evil...See No Evil...

At first the U.S. At first the U.S. ignored the ignored the French attempt to French attempt to re-establish a re-establish a colony. (colony. (Despite anti-colonialist spirit after WWII))

French & Indo-China WarFrench & Indo-China War1946-19541946-1954

Vietnamese Vietnamese fight for fight for independence independence from the from the French.French.

Vietnamese NationalismVietnamese Nationalism

The The Viet Minh Viet Minh becomes the major becomes the major component in the component in the struggle against the struggle against the French.French.

The US Aids FranceThe US Aids France

By 1950 the United By 1950 the United States was not only States was not only supporting the French supporting the French war, it was paying for war, it was paying for the warthe war

By 1954 the U.S. is By 1954 the U.S. is paying 80% of the paying 80% of the war’s costs.war’s costs.

The question is…The question is…

WHY???WHY???Why did Truman support the Why did Truman support the

French?French?

Dien Bien Phu & AfterDien Bien Phu & After

The French (and the Vietnamese The French (and the Vietnamese fighting for the French Union) lost in fighting for the French Union) lost in 1954 at the battle of Dien Bien Phu.1954 at the battle of Dien Bien Phu.

The Peace Conference is held in The Peace Conference is held in Geneva between April 26, 1954 and Geneva between April 26, 1954 and July 21, 1954.July 21, 1954.

The Geneva AccordsThe Geneva Accords

The United States The United States refuses to accept refuses to accept the call for a free the call for a free election in Vietnam.election in Vietnam.

Instead America Instead America imagines a set of imagines a set of dominoes.dominoes.